Big day of racing ….
The first three are in the books in Dubai and so far Rick Dutrow and Edgar Prado are having a big night.
They won the Godolphin Mile with a resurgent Diamond Stripes, who looked finished in early stretch.
They also won the Golden Shaheen with Benny the Bull. Idiot Proof completed an all American exacta.
Mick De Kock continued his dominance of the UAE Derby, running 1st and 2nd with Honour Devil and Royal Vintage.
Headed by the stellar card that the Fair Grounds is putting on which includes names such as Pyro and Indian Blessing. In New York, the Gotham has brought out Giant Moon and Visionaire as well as the now horse Saratoga Russell. If you head to Florida, you can try to guess which Commentator might show up. Oaklawn has the Razorback, which is the returning spot for Zanjero and even Laurel gets in on the action with the Wide Country stakes, as well as the 3 year old debut of Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones’ full sister, Elusive Moment in the 10th.
I don’t play pick 6’s. I just don’t have the bankroll to make sustained runs at this bet. Even when they look chalky, it only takes one firster or a 2nd time starter to blow you out of it. For me, it just doesn’t seem financially sound to chase the pick 6 with tickets of under $200 dollars. Sure you might hit one or two, but those will be chalky and won’t pay enough. Over the long haul it has to be a losing proposition doesn’t it? I have played a few as a partner and have hit a few small ones.
Laurel - Race 9 - Miracle Wood Stakes - Vanderkaay/Malibu Kid
Aqueduct - Race 8 - Stymie Handicap - Temporary Saint
Tampa - Race 6 - 5F Turf Alw - Royal Regan ( Turf Only )
Race 9 - Wayward Lass Stakes - Ever and Anon
Race 10 - 1 1/16th Turf Alw - Syncopation
Fair Grounds - Race 5 - 5F Turf Clm - Pay Now
Race 7 - 5F Turf Alw - Trisha’s Silver
Gulfstream - Race 9 - GP Handicap - Sir Whimsey
Santa Anita - Race 7 - Sham S. - El Gato Malo
Race 8 - Kilroe Mile - War Monger/Storm Military
Race 9 - Big Cap - Big Booster/Heatseeker
With the snow day comes some free time. So, why not take an in-depth look at tomorrows card to help kill a few hours.
Race 1 - F4+MDN16000 - 5.5F ( 34% wire to wire wins )
2 - 4 - 5
A typical poor Maryland maiden race. These races are skull busters and this one is no different. #2 Go for Ginnie comes out of a poor effort against a touch better, don’t be so harsh on her though, that was going a mile over a surface that was playing favorably to outside stalkers. This one was attempting to set the pace under pretty good pressure while somewhat rank. Has shown speed against MSW types in prior starts. #4 My Brooklynne Rose goes out for Gibbs/Capuano who have both been going pretty good lately. Has never been in for a tag and while she’ll be coming from off the pace, she just might out class these, odds won’t be fair however. #5 Smart ‘N Feisty goes out for 31% firster barn, Trombetta, with main man Pimental up. Bred to show speed and firsters in a field such as this are always welcomed. #1 Sheza Wonder will probably take some money of 4 second place finishes in last 5 starts at or around this level. She is a 4 year old making her 16th caree start though and these types usually find a way to lose, but obviously wouldn’t be a shock.
This is copied and pasted from another one of my post, but we’ll pick it up here. Perhaps some useful information here, or maybe somethings for debate.
As far as Laurel goes, for the most part it is one of the fairest surfaces in the country in my opinion. Speed is at an advantage at some distances like most places in the country, but at others it is a disadvantage. Here are some stats I have for the effectiveness of front runners at certain distances.:
That is what the single winning Pick 6 ticket paid Monday afternoon at Santa Anita. It was purchased at the Meadowlands by a New York City resident.
The gentleman had two singles on his ticket, yet the ticket still cost $4,320.
The part that made me chuckle was that he claimed he needed the 2nd single to keep the ticket “affordable”. Affordable huh? Ok … My bankroll all of the sudden seems too small?
Anyways, the ticket was structured like this: 8 x 1 x 6 x 5 x 1 x 9 …
After taxes, “D” as he wants to be identified as, took home $2,381,423. Fear not, because he also had 24 five out of six consos for another $186,878.
Congrats to D.
I played the pick 4 today at Laurel. While my play of the day bombed at 7-5 in the 6th, I did have the Lake horse that went wire to wire on my ticket.
Now, with 10 mins to post for the 7th, after the pick 4 has begun, they announce a scratch in the 8th race. The scratch was Happy Surprise, whose scratch will no doubt have an affect on how this race will be run. He was one of the three horses that do their best running on the lead. His scratch leaves two and often times two isn’t enough to setup a duel that adversely affects the other two.
You couldn’t have announced this scratch earlier? The horse is cross entered tomorrow in the J Campbell and is part of an entry, I have to believe they knew he was going to be scratched much earlier than this.
Oh well.
If anyone wants to route me home the ticket goes:
1/2/4 - R6
1/2/3/7/8 - R7
1 - R8
1/3 - R9
$60 dollars for 2 bucks. First leg winner paid $10.00
So they closed yesterday afternoon with the field favored, as usual, at 3-1.
It never fails that the horse that wins the preps the weekend the bet closes gets grossly overbet and that is the case here also, as Pyro was the lowest of the individual better interest at an absurd 5-1.
A racing fans version of Monday, the return of Etude & random thoughts …
March 12, 2008That is how I feel about Wednesdays. In three days, the big stakes races of the weekend will take place. This week, topping that list and getting the most attention is the Tampa Bay Derby which will feature War Pass. I read tonight that he may only face 3 rivals, which will probably leave him lone speed again. You would think with graded earnings as important as they are this time of year that you could get 6 or 7 together to battle for the balance, guess not.
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Tags:Commentator, Daheer, Etude, Indian Blessing, Play of the Day, Proud Spell, Pyro, Tampa Bay Derby, Tampa Bay Downs, The Meadowlands, Visionaire, War Pass
Posted in Handicapping, Harness Racing, Misc., Thoroughbred Racing | No Comments »